Load shedding is a current topic in SA. Here are some myths and truths to help make an educated decision about alternative energy solutions.
The consumers “knee jerk” reaction to repeated power outages is to immediately go to market wanting a generator as they seem to be the most widely known and perhaps the least understood. Let’s see what’s true or false:
1.
MYTH: my whole home needs power
THE TRUTH: not everything needs back up power.
2.
MYTH: food in the fridge will perish during load shedding
THE TRUTH: limit opening the door, the temperature will not suffer dramatically and the food will be safe for eating.
3.
MYTH: I will have to shower in cold water during load shedding
THE TRUTH: provided your geyser was heated you will have between 150-200 litres of hot water available. An average shower uses 20-40 litres. With a Mr. Power showerhead you can reduce this by 40%. Plus, with the Mr. Power Geyser Controller the geyser is heated during off-peak times and can save 40%-60% of your monthly hot water costs.
4.
MYTH: I can’t cook without electricity
THE TRUTH: explore a gas option – either a gas hob for your stove or a portable plate connected to a gas cylinder. Or the traditional braai option of course.
5.
MYTH: My home will be dark without electricity
THE TRUTH: research cost effective alternatives such as solar lights, battery operated globes and candles. Emergency lights are ideal for unanticipated power outages.
6.
MYTH: I can’t read or watch TV without power and can’t entertain my family
THE TRUTH: It is easy to keep your entertainment centre going with a Mr. Power back up inverter as it draws around 500 watts.
7.
MYTH: I must have a generator
THE TRUTH: your power needs could probably be solved using an inverter solution where you simply plug the emergency power supply into the wall socket and the items you need to run are plugged into the back of the unit.
8.
MYTH: installing and having a generator is easy and simple
THE TRUTH: a generator is expensive to purchase, requires regular maintenance and can be costly to run as they need diesel or petrol to run. A 30kW generator uses up to 8 litres of fuel per hour which is around R100 per hour and they are noisy.
Remember to switch off all appliances immediately when the power goes off. This will protect them from the surge of power when the electricity comes back on again.
Visit www.mrpower.co.za for more advice or call the Mr. Power team directly on 011 804 2988.
The post How To Handle Load Shedding appeared first on Woman Online Magazine.
The consumers “knee jerk” reaction to repeated power outages is to immediately go to market wanting a generator as they seem to be the most widely known and perhaps the least understood. Let’s see what’s true or false:
1.
MYTH: my whole home needs power
THE TRUTH: not everything needs back up power.
2.
MYTH: food in the fridge will perish during load shedding
THE TRUTH: limit opening the door, the temperature will not suffer dramatically and the food will be safe for eating.
3.
MYTH: I will have to shower in cold water during load shedding
THE TRUTH: provided your geyser was heated you will have between 150-200 litres of hot water available. An average shower uses 20-40 litres. With a Mr. Power showerhead you can reduce this by 40%. Plus, with the Mr. Power Geyser Controller the geyser is heated during off-peak times and can save 40%-60% of your monthly hot water costs.
4.
MYTH: I can’t cook without electricity
THE TRUTH: explore a gas option – either a gas hob for your stove or a portable plate connected to a gas cylinder. Or the traditional braai option of course.
5.
MYTH: My home will be dark without electricity
THE TRUTH: research cost effective alternatives such as solar lights, battery operated globes and candles. Emergency lights are ideal for unanticipated power outages.
6.
MYTH: I can’t read or watch TV without power and can’t entertain my family
THE TRUTH: It is easy to keep your entertainment centre going with a Mr. Power back up inverter as it draws around 500 watts.
7.
MYTH: I must have a generator
THE TRUTH: your power needs could probably be solved using an inverter solution where you simply plug the emergency power supply into the wall socket and the items you need to run are plugged into the back of the unit.
8.
MYTH: installing and having a generator is easy and simple
THE TRUTH: a generator is expensive to purchase, requires regular maintenance and can be costly to run as they need diesel or petrol to run. A 30kW generator uses up to 8 litres of fuel per hour which is around R100 per hour and they are noisy.
Remember to switch off all appliances immediately when the power goes off. This will protect them from the surge of power when the electricity comes back on again.
Visit www.mrpower.co.za for more advice or call the Mr. Power team directly on 011 804 2988.
The post How To Handle Load Shedding appeared first on Woman Online Magazine.
